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Kettara mine, Bour Cercle, Marrakech Prefecture, Marrakesh-Safi Region, Moroccoi
Regional Level Types
Kettara mineMine
Bour CercleCercle
Marrakech PrefecturePrefecture
Marrakesh-Safi RegionRegion
MoroccoCountry

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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
31° 52' 5'' North , 8° 10' 37'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
31.86811,-8.17709
GRN:
N22W05
Type:
Mine
Köppen climate type:
BSh : Hot semi-arid (steppe) climate
Nearest Settlements:
PlacePopulationDistance
Marrakesh839,296 (2016)30.9km
Youssoufia64,910 (2016)53.6km
Mindat Locality ID:
195124
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:195124:3
GUID (UUID V4):
0


Abandoned pyrrhotite mine. The area is affected by acid mine drainage.
Located ca. 35 km NW of Marrakech and ca. 25 km W of the Sidi Bou Othmane locality.
The gossan was exploited for limonite and ochre from 1938 to 1963. Below the gossan, there is a cementation zone that includes native copper, pyrite, chalcocite, covellite, with traces of gold and silver. Pyrite was extracted from this zone between 1955 and 1966 and used for the production of hydrosulfuric acid for the leaching of the Cu that is contained in the chalcocite and covellite. Below the cementation zone, the primary mineralization is pyrrhotite-rich (up to 95 vol %) and it forms an elongate subvertical lens 500 m deep, 40–70 m thick, and 1500 m long.
[Note: uncertain if in Marrakech Prefecture or other prefecture.]

Most of the secondary minerals listed were detected in tailings dumps (hardpan in part).

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.


Mineral List


29 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded


Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Albite
Formula: Na(AlSi3O8)
ⓘ Alunite
Formula: KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
ⓘ Arsenopyrite
Formula: FeAsS
ⓘ Baryte
Formula: BaSO4
ⓘ Butlerite
Formula: Fe3+(SO4)(OH) · 2H2O
ⓘ Calcite
Formula: CaCO3
ⓘ Chalcocite
Formula: Cu2S
ⓘ Chalcopyrite
Formula: CuFeS2
ⓘ 'Chlorite Group'
ⓘ Copiapite
Formula: Fe2+Fe3+4(SO4)6(OH)2 · 20H2O
ⓘ Coquimbite
Formula: AlFe3(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O
ⓘ Covellite
Formula: CuS
ⓘ Fluorapatite
Formula: Ca5(PO4)3F
ⓘ Galena
Formula: PbS
ⓘ Goethite
Formula: Fe3+O(OH)
ⓘ Gypsum
Formula: CaSO4 · 2H2O
ⓘ Halotrichite
Formula: Fe2+Al2(SO4)4 · 22H2O
ⓘ Hematite
Formula: Fe2O3
ⓘ 'Heulandite Subgroup' ?
Formula: (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O
ⓘ Hydroniumjarosite
Formula: (H3O)Fe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6
ⓘ Ilmenite
Formula: Fe2+TiO3
ⓘ Jarosite
Formula: KFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6
ⓘ 'Limonite'
ⓘ Marcasite
Formula: FeS2
ⓘ 'Monazite Group'
Formula: REE(PO4)
ⓘ Muscovite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘ Native Sulphur
Formula: S8
ⓘ Pyrite
Formula: FeS2
ⓘ Pyrrhotite
Formula: Fe1-xS
ⓘ Quartz
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ 'Serpentine Subgroup'
Formula: D3[Si2O5](OH)4
ⓘ Sphalerite
Formula: ZnS
ⓘ Starkeyite
Formula: MgSO4 · 4H2O
ⓘ Talc
Formula: Mg3Si4O10(OH)2

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
ⓘNative Sulphur1.CC.05S8
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘChalcocite2.BA.05Cu2S
ⓘCovellite2.CA.05aCuS
ⓘSphalerite2.CB.05aZnS
ⓘChalcopyrite2.CB.10aCuFeS2
ⓘPyrrhotite2.CC.10Fe1-xS
ⓘGalena2.CD.10PbS
ⓘPyrite2.EB.05aFeS2
ⓘMarcasite2.EB.10aFeS2
ⓘArsenopyrite2.EB.20FeAsS
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘQuartz4.00.05SiO2
ⓘHematite4.CB.05Fe2O3
ⓘIlmenite4.CB.05Fe2+TiO3
ⓘGoethite4.FD.10Fe3+O(OH)
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘCalcite5.AB.05CaCO3
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
ⓘBaryte7.AD.35BaSO4
ⓘAlunite7.BC.10KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
ⓘHydroniumjarosite7.BC.10(H3O)Fe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6
ⓘJarosite7.BC.10KFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6
ⓘStarkeyite7.CB.15MgSO4 · 4H2O
ⓘCoquimbite7.CB.55AlFe3(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O
ⓘHalotrichite7.CB.85Fe2+Al2(SO4)4 · 22H2O
ⓘGypsum7.CD.40CaSO4 · 2H2O
ⓘCopiapite7.DB.35Fe2+Fe3+4(SO4)6(OH)2 · 20H2O
ⓘButlerite7.DC.10Fe3+(SO4)(OH) · 2H2O
Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates
ⓘFluorapatite8.BN.05Ca5(PO4)3F
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘTalc9.EC.05Mg3Si4O10(OH)2
ⓘMuscovite9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘvar. Sericite9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘAlbite9.FA.35Na(AlSi3O8)
Unclassified
ⓘ'Chlorite Group'-
ⓘ'Heulandite Subgroup' ?-(Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O
ⓘ'Limonite'-
ⓘ'Monazite Group'-REE(PO4)
ⓘ'Serpentine Subgroup'-D3[Si2O5](OH)4

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ AluniteKAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
Hⓘ ButleriteFe3+(SO4)(OH) · 2H2O
Hⓘ CopiapiteFe2+Fe43+(SO4)6(OH)2 · 20H2O
Hⓘ CoquimbiteAlFe3(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O
Hⓘ GoethiteFe3+O(OH)
Hⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Hⓘ HalotrichiteFe2+Al2(SO4)4 · 22H2O
Hⓘ Heulandite Subgroup(Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O
Hⓘ Hydroniumjarosite(H3O)Fe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
Hⓘ JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
Hⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Hⓘ StarkeyiteMgSO4 · 4H2O
Hⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Hⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Hⓘ Serpentine SubgroupD3[Si2O5](OH)4
CCarbon
Cⓘ CalciteCaCO3
OOxygen
Oⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Oⓘ AluniteKAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
Oⓘ BaryteBaSO4
Oⓘ ButleriteFe3+(SO4)(OH) · 2H2O
Oⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Oⓘ CopiapiteFe2+Fe43+(SO4)6(OH)2 · 20H2O
Oⓘ CoquimbiteAlFe3(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O
Oⓘ FluorapatiteCa5(PO4)3F
Oⓘ GoethiteFe3+O(OH)
Oⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Oⓘ HalotrichiteFe2+Al2(SO4)4 · 22H2O
Oⓘ HematiteFe2O3
Oⓘ Heulandite Subgroup(Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O
Oⓘ Hydroniumjarosite(H3O)Fe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
Oⓘ IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
Oⓘ JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
Oⓘ Monazite GroupREE(PO4)
Oⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oⓘ QuartzSiO2
Oⓘ StarkeyiteMgSO4 · 4H2O
Oⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Oⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oⓘ Serpentine SubgroupD3[Si2O5](OH)4
FFluorine
Fⓘ FluorapatiteCa5(PO4)3F
NaSodium
Naⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Naⓘ Heulandite Subgroup(Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ StarkeyiteMgSO4 · 4H2O
Mgⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
AlAluminium
Alⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Alⓘ AluniteKAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
Alⓘ CoquimbiteAlFe3(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O
Alⓘ HalotrichiteFe2+Al2(SO4)4 · 22H2O
Alⓘ Heulandite Subgroup(Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O
Alⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Alⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
SiSilicon
Siⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Siⓘ Heulandite Subgroup(Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O
Siⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Siⓘ QuartzSiO2
Siⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Siⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Siⓘ Serpentine SubgroupD3[Si2O5](OH)4
PPhosphorus
Pⓘ FluorapatiteCa5(PO4)3F
Pⓘ Monazite GroupREE(PO4)
SSulfur
Sⓘ AluniteKAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
Sⓘ ArsenopyriteFeAsS
Sⓘ BaryteBaSO4
Sⓘ ButleriteFe3+(SO4)(OH) · 2H2O
Sⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Sⓘ ChalcociteCu2S
Sⓘ CopiapiteFe2+Fe43+(SO4)6(OH)2 · 20H2O
Sⓘ CoquimbiteAlFe3(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O
Sⓘ CovelliteCuS
Sⓘ GalenaPbS
Sⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Sⓘ HalotrichiteFe2+Al2(SO4)4 · 22H2O
Sⓘ Hydroniumjarosite(H3O)Fe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
Sⓘ JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
Sⓘ MarcasiteFeS2
Sⓘ PyriteFeS2
Sⓘ PyrrhotiteFe1-xS
Sⓘ SphaleriteZnS
Sⓘ StarkeyiteMgSO4 · 4H2O
Sⓘ Native SulphurS8
KPotassium
Kⓘ AluniteKAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
Kⓘ Heulandite Subgroup(Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O
Kⓘ JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
Kⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Kⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
CaCalcium
Caⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Caⓘ FluorapatiteCa5(PO4)3F
Caⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Caⓘ Heulandite Subgroup(Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O
TiTitanium
Tiⓘ IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
FeIron
Feⓘ ArsenopyriteFeAsS
Feⓘ ButleriteFe3+(SO4)(OH) · 2H2O
Feⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Feⓘ CopiapiteFe2+Fe43+(SO4)6(OH)2 · 20H2O
Feⓘ CoquimbiteAlFe3(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2O
Feⓘ GoethiteFe3+O(OH)
Feⓘ HalotrichiteFe2+Al2(SO4)4 · 22H2O
Feⓘ HematiteFe2O3
Feⓘ Hydroniumjarosite(H3O)Fe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
Feⓘ IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
Feⓘ JarositeKFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6
Feⓘ MarcasiteFeS2
Feⓘ PyriteFeS2
Feⓘ PyrrhotiteFe1-xS
CuCopper
Cuⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Cuⓘ ChalcociteCu2S
Cuⓘ CovelliteCuS
ZnZinc
Znⓘ SphaleriteZnS
AsArsenic
Asⓘ ArsenopyriteFeAsS
BaBarium
Baⓘ BaryteBaSO4
PbLead
Pbⓘ GalenaPbS

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

AfricaContinent
African PlateTectonic Plate

This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

Hakkou, Rachid, Benzaazoua, Mostafa, Bussière, Bruno (2008) Acid Mine Drainage at the Abandoned Kettara Mine (Morocco): 1. Environmental Characterization. Mine Water and the Environment, 27 (3). 145-159 doi:10.1007/s10230-008-0036-6
Hakkou, Rachid, Benzaazoua, Mostafa, Bussière, Bruno (2008) Acid Mine Drainage at the Abandoned Kettara Mine (Morocco): 2. Mine Waste Geochemical Behavior. Mine Water and the Environment, 27 (3). 160-170 doi:10.1007/s10230-008-0035-7
El Amari, K., Valera, P., Hibti, M., Pretti, S., Marcello, A., Essarraj, S. (2014) Impact of mine tailings on surrounding soils and ground water: Case of Kettara old mine, Morocco. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 100. 437-449 doi:10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2014.07.017
N'diaye, I., Essaifi, A., Dubois, M., Lacroix, B., Goodenough, K.M., Maacha, L. (2016) Fluid flow and polymetallic sulfide mineralization in the Kettara shear zone (Jebilet Massif, Variscan Belt, Morocco) Journal of African Earth Sciences, 119. 17-37 doi:10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2016.03.010
Zouhri, Lahcen, El Amari, Khalid, Marier, David, Benkaddour, Abdelfattah, Hibti, Mohamed (2019) Bacteriological and geochemical features of the groundwater resources: Kettara abandoned mine (Morocco) Environmental Pollution, 252. 1698-1708 doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2019.06.098
Essaifi, Abderrahim, Goodenough, Kathryn, Tornos, Fernando, Outigua, Abdelhak, Ouadjou, Abdelmalek, Maacha, Lhou (2019) The Moroccan Massive Sulphide Deposits: Evidence for a Polyphase Mineralization. Minerals, 9 (3) 156 doi:10.3390/min9030156
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